<p>morning peeps.</p>
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<p>First, congratulations, Brandy!!!! you have made an amazing accomplishment, be very proud of yourself. you put in so much work and effort.</p>
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<p>Second, nice to see some folks pop in.</p>
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<p>Now, onto less happy things.</p>
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<p>What can I say? This is my home. I grew up in Massachusetts, and I've lived in the city itself for over 20 years. Half of my working career has been spent working within 2 blocks of the marathon finish line, and most of my career was within a mile or two. I celebrated my wedding day at the Lenox Hotel, on Boylston St, across from the finish line. I have spectated at the Marathon my entire life, beginning when I was little and my parents would bring us into the city to watch. It was during one of those trips, I told my parents I would live in Boston someday (something my mother always liked to remind people of.) I run sometimes, so I understand the allure, the mystique of the Boston Marathon. I know I will never run it, which made it even more exciting to see people I know do so. </p>
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<p>Yesterday, I was frustrated by my guitar lesson earlier in the day and had decided I wouldn't head down to watch the race this year, so I could practice more. I went out for a coffee to break up my afternoon of sitting at home. When I got the first message from a friend at 3:15, a tweet, saying "phone's not working, are you at boylston?", followed by a missed call from my sister's best friend, and then a txt from a friend in Toronto, saying, "hope you're ok? xo"...I knew something very bad was happening. My heart sank, and then I began the process of calling and txting my family and friends. My friends who were running yesterday. My friends that were spectating, one of whom I knew was right at the finish line. My father, so he wouldn't worry. My sister, because my BiL is a Boston police officer. 3 miles from the finish line, there were a group of us strangers, standing, outside the cafe around the corner from the Sam Adams brewery, on Patriot's Day, talking on the phone to loved ones, trying to understand what "two explosions at the finish line" meant.</p>
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<p>Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Boston. It is not just my hometown, but also how I identify myself. I am a Bostonian. It is my history, my people, what I believe and love. It is "the hub of the universe" for its art, culture, history, knowledge, education, social awareness, activism, love, caring, support, and generosity. It is a city with its fair share of problems, in the past and very much in the future. But at its heart, it is a city of hope, strength, tolerance, and kindness. Bostonians are not the cold people often mentioned. It's not in our nature. It is only because I know this to be true of my city, that I know we will be stronger in the end. But I am no less heartsick today.</p>
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